About Paul Minikin

Hello, my name is Paul Minikin. I am the managing director / owner of Digital Hearing Care Solutions Ltd. Part of the operation is HAB Hearing, a regional independent hearing aid supplier in the north of England with a large internet based hearing aid accessories element. We supply accessories to the UK, the EU and many locations worldwide. Another major part of the company is FM Hearing Systems, the leading UK supplier of the fantastic Phonak Roger system.

Why is there wax in my ears?

Ear wax forms naturally via secretions from glands near the entrance of the ear canal. Ear wax when produced is drawn outwards like a very slow conveyor belt via the skins natural migration process (epithelial migration).

Typically it dries as it reaches the entrance of the ear canal and then drops or flakes out of the ear, often without you noticing. Wearing hearing aids or noise plugs, narrow or hairy ear canals, your diet and environmental factors can all exacerbate problematic build up of wax in the ear canal.

Having an ongoing issue with excessive wax in the ear canal is just the luck of the draw – some people never have any issues all their lives and for others it is an ongoing problem.

Do I need to use oil in my ears before attending your ear wax removal clinic?

Not really. Oil is historically recommended to soften wax for ear syringing / irrigation. It is generally not required prior to microsuction, which is our preferred method of removal and the ‘Gold Standard’. A small percentage of people need to be sent […]

Microsuction and Ear Irrigation by HAB Hearing

At HAB Hearing, one of the methods of ear wax removal we use is microsuction. In fact, microsuction is our first and preferred choice, if you like the ‘gold standard’. We offer other methods as well where necessary. We also offer ear irrigation and dry removal.

Ear irrigation is the more modern and safer version of ear syringing but it’s a bit messy. It usually needs a few days of olive oil. Microsuction does not. Dry removal is removing ear wax and debris manually with an instrument. We sometimes complement microsuction with ear irrigation and dry removal if needed.

What is Microsuction?

We undertake microsuction under magnification with a medical suction device. Hence the term microsuction. A very thin wand type fitting is attached to the end of a suction tube which allows us to gently remove the earwax from the ear canal. A little like a mini vacuum cleaner.

Usually micro suction does not need pre-treatment with oil or drops – no mess!

Ear Wax Removal

At HAB Hearing, based in Silsden, West Yorkshire we offer an ear wax removal service (amongst a multitude of other hearing loss related services) to compliment what is available locally via NHS provision.

Blocked ear canals is an issue that does not affect everybody. Some find it never happens or is an occasional issue. For some it happens because they are working in a dusty environment regularly. As soon as they change occupation the problem goes away.

Some will find they have a problem for a number of years and it seems to sort itself out and lessen (or increase) over time as the body changes with age.

People that wear hearing aids, ear protection, or anything that means you put something in your ears regularly quite often find that build up of ear wax, skin flakes and other debris becomes an issue.

Ear wax is not a problem (for everyone!)

Ear wax in and of itself is not a problem, it’s actually a *good thing* to have ear wax in your ear canal. It performs a necessary function. Ear wax serves as a natural cleanser as it moves out of […]

With modern advances in hearing aid technology, how well hearing aids work in the most challenging of acoustic environments have come on in leaps and bounds. However there are still limitations to how much hearing aids alone can help. This is where we can call in the help of a friend called Roger. Meet an important part of Roger – Phonak Roger Pen.

Phonak Roger System

A Phonak Roger system is a bundle of additional pieces of equipment that can be used in conjunction with most existing brands and models of hearing aids. It also works well with most BAHA’s and cochlear implants too.

If you think of it this way, hearing instruments have their limitations, of course they do. Put aside the overblown marketing hyperbole you might read on various websites. Particularly from the various hearing aid manufacturers!

Phonak Roger is equipment that is designed to plug the gaps that can’t be addressed entirely by hearing aids alone.

Phonak Roger Pen

Comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, one of the most popular transmitters available is the Phonak Roger Pen.